Rest promoting appliance



April 16, 1935. L. M. HOEY REST PnoMoTrNG APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1934 Inventor `llomey April 16,1935, L MHOEY .1,997,931

REST PROMOTING APPLIANGE Filed Jan.' 1e, 1954 s sheets-sheet 2 A e /5 Z0 r l ff .4 Z5

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Ap. 16, 1935. L. M. HoEY `REST PROMOTING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 16, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTI FFICE REST PROMOTING APPLIANCE Leo M. Hoey, San Antonio, Tex. Application January 16, 1934, Serial No. 706,886 2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-164) This invention relates to a'multiple part ac'- cessory or appliance principally .designed for use by a human being and constructed with the end in view of providing the user with comforting means for excluding light and sound and promoting thorough rest. y

Brcadly `and brieiiy described the preferred embodiment of the invention embodies a headgear or harness characterized by selectively usable adaptation means serving in one instance to cover the eyes to substantially exclude light, to plug the ears to partially exclude annoying sounds and noises, and which also serves to support the chin to keep the mouth closed in order to promote proper nose breathing and to overcome snoring.

In reducing the invention to practice I have selected and coordinated the features of the construction in such a manner as to permit them to be employed simultaneously or individually as occasion demands.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the fol lowing description and drawings.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is an elevational view showing the complete assembly .forming the headgearor harness and showing the manner in which the com plementary parts thereof areworn.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view illustrating principally the adjustable framework whose principalfunction .is to hold removable ear plugs or stopples i'n place."

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the arrangement depicted in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail section on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line l-Ll oi Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view disn closing one of the adapter elements for holding a companion ear plug in place.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the light excluding eye shield unit.

Figure 7 is an elevational View of an additional accessory or unit which may be diiierentiated as the chin supporting unit.

Figure 8 is a detail View of the noseguard constituting a feature of the eye shield.

Figure 9 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the line 9-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a detail view partly' in section and partly in elevation showing the construction of one of the improved ear plugs or stopples.

Figure 11 is atop plan view of the stopple shown in Figure 10..

As before intimated the harness is composed of a plurality of parts or individual accessories. Although these may be well described as a unit 5 I prefer to f distinguish yeach unit by Aprimary numerals. For instance as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the numeral l2 designates the headgear. f The numeral i3 in Figures l and 7 indicate the chin supporting means or unit. The numeral I4 10 designates the light excluding eye shield or unit. For sake of clearness of description the units will be described individually since in practice kthey may be used collectively or separately as occasion requires. All three of these units, however, that is the parts l2, I3 and M constitute what may be broadly referred to as a harness andin practice they rnay be joined together in such manner as to permit separate use without subjecting the parts to accidental displacement when not in use.

Analyzing the head gear l2 it will be observed that this is principally made up of bent parts formed of wire metal or equivalent means. It comprises a pair of companion semicircular bows and each bow is made up of adjustable connection portions or sections. The bows are disposed at right angles toeach other and that bow which extends across the crown of the head is composed of the distinguishableA parts l5 and.v I6 whose overlapping ends are slidably united by a sleevelike coupling il. That bow which partially encircles the back of the head is made up of the sections i8 and I3 whose overlapping ends are also slidably joined together by a similar coupling sleeve 20. These bows are primarily adapted to hold the adapter or ear frames 2| in proper position. The frame as shown in Figure` 5 is shaped to partially embrace the adjacent ear and it includes a resilient retention or presser element 22 shaped to iit into the ear somewhat in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. This retainer 22 is also shaped in a manner to conveniently hold the complemental ear plugs or stopples 23 in place. The numeral 24 in Figure 5 is merely a brace or connective strap which reinforces and retains the proper shape of the ear adapter 2|. Incidentally, the wire forming the adapter is preferably wrapped as indicated at 25 to aiord the requisite pad like action. The wrapping may be rubber or fabric, the thought being merely to'overcome undue pressure against the head and to minimize discomfort.

The unit I3 comprises a head encircling strap Z6 whichis preferably elastic and this is attached to a chin holder 27 which may be conveniently referred to as a stirrup. As before stated this part I3 may be made for permanent attachment to the head gear if and when occasion requires.

The light excluding eye shield unit I4 comprises a fabric covering of appropriate texture which is shaped to conform to the features with which it cooperates. It is here shown as in the form of a rectangular sheet of fabric Whose end portions 28 form the individual eye shields. Its central lower edge portion is fashioned as indicated at 29 to form what may be designated as a nose rest or adapter. The numeral 3G merely designates the head encircling band or strap which is attached to the piece of fabric and serves to hold it comfortably in place. Obviously when this eye covering is in position as disclosed in Figure 1 it shields the eyes of the wearer from strong light and has a tendency to expedite and maintain sound sleep. As before stated the units I3 serve to keep the mouth closed, to shape the chin by preventing drooping, and to incidentally prevent snoring. Obviously by keeping the mouth closed proper breathing through the nostrils is promoted. Then too as before indicated the head gear I2 which is adjustable to the individual wearer is primarily used to hold the frame like ear adapters 2| in place which in turn embody the resilient plug retaining clips 22; Obviously these clips 22 are flexed or offset slightly as shown in Figures 2 and 3 in order to exert requisite resilient pressure against the ear plugs 23.

Attention is now invited in particular to the preferred types or forms of earl bailes or plugs utilized in conjunction with the retaining clips. From Figures l and 11 it will be seen that each stopple comprises a hollow rubber body 3i of suitable elongated shape such as enables it to be conveniently inserted and forced lightly into the ear. The inner end 32 is rounded or of con- -vex form so as to facilitate insertion and seating. The opposite or outer end is of segmental flat formation as indicated at 33 and at this end there is a lateral retaining lug 34 having a curved groove 35 to accommodate the adjacent portion of the clip 22. The lug 34 also acts as a stop element and prevents the plug from being inserted too far. The plug is of an expansible and contractible type so that after it is inserted in the ear it may be expanded and securely held against displacement. In accomplishing this I provide a screw threaded stud 36 having a curved head 31 which gives shape to the end 32 and provides the desired rigidity at this point.

The head is suitably and securely fastened to the rubber.

Engageable with this threaded stud is a hollow or sleeve bolt 38 having an external head 39 suitably shaped to facilitate convenient grasping and turning to draw the parts 36 and 38 together to expand the body 3I. Incidentally the numerals 4I) merely designate air ports or vents to facilitate release of air.

Obviously an expansible and contractible plug of this type might well be used by itself though it is preferably used in conjunction with the clip 22 of the aforesaid adapter 2|.

The gist of the idea is the provision of a lug equipped hollow rubber expansible and contractible ear stopple of appropriate shape and proportion equipped with internal screw threaded members cooperating in facilitating the expanding and contracting action.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the illustrative drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the purpose, features and advantages, the explicit construction, and the invention as hereinafter claimed.

It is to be understood that minor changes in shape, size, relative portions, and materials may be resorted to in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as now claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

I. A device of the class described comprising a vertically arranged bow for fitting over a portion of the top of the head of a user and a hori- Y zontally arranged bow for fitting around a portion of the baci; of the head, a depending substantially U-shaped frame for connecting each end of one bow with an adjacent end of the other bow, and an. inwardly extending member connected with one limb of the U-shaped frame and sloping for holding an ear plug in place. i

2. Means for holding an ear plug in the ear of a person comprising a vertically arranged bow for fitting over the head of the user, and a horizontally arranged bow for tting over a rear portion of the head, and a substantially U-shaped frame having the upper end of one limb con-` nected to an end of one bow and the upper end of the other limb connected to an end of the other bow, a portion of one limb of the U-shaped frame being bent inwardly and also bent toward the head to engage the plug.

. LEO M. HOEY. 

